Men arrested for 6-acre pot field in Hinkley

HINKLEY • Five men were arrested Monday for allegedly operating a 6-acre marijuana field on someone else's property in Hinkley, according to a report by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The five men, all from Northern California, were believed to be living on the property on the 43800 block of Hinkley Road for about three months before the property owner alerted deputies to their trespass, Sheriff's Department spokesperson Jodi Miller said in an email.

When deputies arrived at the scene they found five men living on the 20-acre property in outbuildings and tents, the report said. The marijuana growth covered about 6 acres of land, containing about 1,100 live marijuana plants at various stages of growth. Deputies also seized one firearm from the location.

After further investigation by the Sheriff's Marijuana Eradication Team, deputies believed the suspects tried to hide the marijuana plants by surrounding them with fencing covered in beige netting.

They also determined they used a natural water well on the property to water the plants.

The suspects were arrested and booked into the Barstow Jail for trespassing and cultivation of marijuana. Arrested were Choeun Chin, 40, of Stockton; Reth Chhun, 32, of Stockton; Pon Sisongkham, 52, of SAcramento; Sy Lee Sivichith, 55, of Sacramento; and Vee Pethpadouang, 53, of San Rafael.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Deputy Danny Rosa of the Marijuana Eradication Team at (909) 890-4840. Those wishing to report anonymously can contact the WeTip hotline at (800) 78-CRIME or visit www.WeTip.com.

Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.